coleman



(No-Model.) 3 Sheets-#Sheet 1 J. P. COLEMAN.

ELECTRIC SLOT FUR SIGNALS.- 510,534,815. Patented Feb. 26, 18915.

[lmmlmllluml l i l Lb e e h S S t B 6 h s 3 SM L m Nm AS MR Bw LT 00 GL vs P nlu pm JMU E L E v(No Modlff) No 534,815. .Patented Peb. 26, 1895.

mvEN-ron,

WITN ESSES:

on. PnoYo-umo. WASHINGTON n c (No Model.)

ELECTRIC SLOTFQR SIGNALS'.

Patented Feb. 26, 18x95.

041mm. wAsHmmoN. D. c.

VlirirTnn STnTns PATENT Tirion'.

JOHN PRESSLEY COLEMAN, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SAMEPLACE.

ELECTRIC SLOT FOR SIGNALS.

SPECIFGATEON forming part of Letters Patent No. 534,815, dated February 26, 1895.

Application filed September 27, 1893. Serial No. 486,625. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern,..-

Be it known that I, J oHN PanssLnY COLE- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Swissvale, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and usefullmprovemenis in Electric Slots for Signals, of which improvements the following is a specification.

The invention described herein' relates to certain improvements in electrically controlled signal operating mechanism of that class or kind generally known as the electric slot, whereby a signal set to safety may be automatically shifted to danger by a passing train. l

The improvements herein described relate more specifically to that class or kind of electric slots described and shown in Letters Patent No. 395,315, granted January l, 1889.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described and particularly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a view of a signal and its operating mechanism including my improved slot, the signal being shown at safety. Fig. 2 isa rear sectional elevation of the slot mechanism on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 the signal being at normal or danger position. Fig. Atis a sectional side elevation of the slot mechanism, showing the position of the parts where the circuit through the magnets is closed. Fig. 5 is aview similar to Fig. l, showing the operating lever in position to hold the signal at safety, while the signal has been shifted to normal bya break in the circuit of the magnets, and Fig. Gis a sectional side elevation of the slot mechanism showing the position of the parts when un touched by a rupture of the controlling circuit.

In the practice of my invention the signal 1 is pivotally mounted on a post or other supy port 2, and is provided on the end opposite the blade with a weight 3 whereby when free` to move the signal may be shifted and held at normal or danger position. The signal is connected by a rod a, with an arm 5 having one end pivotally connected to the post 2, while the opposite end is connected to a slotted lug 6 projecting from the lower end of the vertically movable slide 6, or if preferred the rod iE may be connected directly to the lower end of the slide. This slide Gis arranged within a case or shell 7, which is provided with an extension 8 adapted in connection with an opening in the case or shell to guide the slide 6. A recess is formed in one edge of the slide 6, and within this recess is pivoted a dog 9 provided with a shoulder adapted to rest upon a friction roller 10 mounted on the upper end of an arm 11, having its lower end pivoted on a pin 12 at or near the lower end of the case or shell. 11 is normally held in engagement with the shoulder on the dog 9, by a linger 13 which is pivotally mounted on` the case and has the armature let of the electro-magnet 15,secured to its free end. This finger and the electromagnet are so arranged that when the armatnre is held against the magnet, its circuit being closed, the finger will bear against a friction roller 16 mounted on lug extending from the upper end of the arm, and hold the latterin the position shown in Fig. ft, the slide being at the upper limit of its independent movement, and the dog resting upon the end of the arm.

It will be observed that the point of contact of the shoulder of the dog and the friction roller is at one side of the pivotal point of the dog as shown in Fig. 4, so that the `weight of the slide tends to force the arm out from under the dog.

A block 17 provided with lugs or projections 18 and 19 is pivotally connected by a pin passing through one of the arms .as 18 to the case or shell ator near its lower end, and `to one side of the pivot at support of the arm 11 as clearly shown in Figs. 4t and 6l. This block is pivotally supported by the signal lcver 20, which in turn is pivoted to the signal post 2. The pivotal point of the block is in a plane passing midway between the lugs 18 and 19, so that when the lever 2O is shifted so as to raise the slot mechanism and shift the signal to safety, the lug 19 will bear against Va projection 2l on the inner side of the arm and tending to push the upper end of the arm out from under thedog 9 as shown in Figli; but when the lever 2O is so shifted as to lower the case or shell either for shifting the signal The roller on the arm' IOC to normal or to pick l up the signal, it having been previously shifted to danger automatically an extension 22 on the lug 18 will bear against theouter side of the arm 11 tending to force the upper end thereof under the dog 9 as shown in Fig. 6.

Wires or chains 23 are connected to the lever 2O and extend to the signal cabin, where they are connected to a lever or other suitable operating mechanism.

When the arm 11 is held by the linger 13 1n engagement with the slide, as described, the slot mechanism operates as a connection between the lever 2O and the rod 4, and the signal can be shifted to clear or danger as desired by the operator. In case the signal has been shifted to clear as shown in Fig. 1, and the circuit of the magnet 15 broken, the outward pressure exercised by the dog 9 and the arm 19 upon the arm l1 will force the latter out from under the dog, permitting the slide 6 to drop andthe signal to go to danger. In order to restore the connection between the slide and the arm 6, the operator shifts the lever as if to restore the signal to normal or danger, and thereby lowers the case or shell until the upper end of the arm is below the shoulder of dog 9. When during this downward movement the'case or shell is arrested by contact with an angular extension or lug 6, of the slide, the jerk imparted to the block 17 will cause the extension 21 of the block 17 to push the arrn 11 in toward the dog so that the upper end of the arm will pass in under the shoulder of the dog. Theinward movement of the upper end of the arm 11, permits the finger 13 to swing down until the armature 14 comes within the influence of the magnet 13 which if its circuit has been closed will pull the armature and finger inwardly forcing the upper end of arm under the dog, and holding it in that position. closed when the case is lowered as stated,and the operator should attempt to clear the signal, the upward movement of the case would il bination of a movable slide connected to the 1l signal, a pivotally mounted arm adapted to 2 engage the slide, a pivotally mounted block provided with an extension adapted to push the arm toward the slide, a signal operating simply force the arm 11 from under the dog and the signal would not be shifted.

In order to relieve the jar incident to the drop of the slide 6 when the signal goes to danger, a cushioning spring 24 is arranged on the post 2 in such relation to the lever 5, that the latter will strike upon and be cushioned by the spring.

It occasionally happens in that form of slot mechanism described and shown in the patent referred to that the roller upon which the slide rests becomes rusted or covered with y to the ready operation of the slot mechan- If the circuit of the magnet 15 is not the latter out of engagement with the slide, 2 substantially as set forth.

ism is avoided by the use of the pivoted dog 9, asl the latter will readily move away from the slide with the roller, and further, as the dog and arm move away from the slide, the dog will be more and more eective to force the arm away from the slide.

I claim herein as my invent-ion- 1. In an elcctric'slot for signals, the combination of a movable slide connected to the signal, a dog pivoted to the slide and provided with a shoulder, a pivotally mounted arm movable into and out of engagement with said shoulder, and an electro-magnet for holding the arm in engagement with the shoulder, substantially as set forth.

2. In an electric slot for signals,the combination of a movable slide connected to the signal, a dog pivoted tothe slide and provided with a shoulder, a pivotally mounted arm provided with a friction roller adapted to bear against the shoulder on the dog, said parts being so arranged that the point of bearing of the roller on the dog is one side of the .pivotal point of the dog, and an electromagnet for holding the arm in engagement with the dog, substantially as set forth.

3. In an electric slot for signals, the combination of a movable slide connected to the signal, a dog pivoted to the slide and provided with a shoulder, a pivotally mounted arm adapted to bear against the shoulder, a pivotally mounted finger for holding the arm in engagement with the dog, and an electromagnet for holding the finger against the arm while in engagement with the dog, substantially as set forth.

4L. In an electric slot the combination of a movable slide connected to the signal, a pivotally mounted arm adapted to engage the slide provided with alateral projection and a pivotally mounted block connected to the signal lever and provided with an arm adapted to engage the projection on the arm and force 5. In an electric slot for signals the comlever connected to the block and an electromagnet for holding the arm in engagement Wit-h the slide, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOI-1N PRESSLEY COLEMAN.

Witnesses:

J. C. Moon, K. H. LUND.

ICO

IIO 

